Festival die-hards take to the streets
by Dave Eisenstadter
Sentinel Staff
Published: Saturday, October 16, 2010
A small but devoted group of pumpkin aficionados braved the cold, wind and rain to attend the Friday night kickoff of the 20th annual Keene Pumpkin Festival.
The large orange fruits, however, were out in force.
Lit candles gleamed through the faces of carved jack-o-lanterns on Central Square, along Main Street and throughout Railroad Square as the sky darkened.
Among those perusing the pumpkins were Gilbert A. and Alice K. Fuld of Keene. Strolling down Railroad Street with their daughter, Rachel A. Fuld, and her two daughters, Anna, 7, and Lila, 2, they said they liked what they saw.
One of the family’s favorites was a hooting owl.
“It’s cold,” Lila said, snuggling close to her mother. Anna said she was looking forward to Saturday’s parade, especially because she heard there would be flamenco dancers.
Georgie M. Sloate and David A. Smith from the Hartford, Conn., area wandered among the pumpkins at Central Square. A part of a larger group that drives up from Connecticut each year, they said they preferred experiencing the festival on Friday. There are fewer pumpkins, but also thinner crowds.
The group simultaneously got into the spirit of the festival and protected themselves from the rain by wearing large costume hats.
Sloate said she heard through others she met that evening that this year’s festival could be the last, but she hopes it’s not true.
Center Stage Cheshire County, which organizes the event, will be bowing out after this year’s festival, leaving organizations and businesses wondering if anyone else will pick up the ball in the future.
Groups and individuals continuously brought in pumpkins throughout the night. Pausing after signing in more than 30 pumpkins from the Salvation Army, Kimberley E. Zofsak said she was impressed by the numbers.
“Considering the weather, it’s been a pretty good turnout,” Zofsak said.
While she was not sure of the total for the evening, she was optimistic for tomorrow’s count.
“At this rate, we’ll do well,” she said.
Dave Eisenstadter can be reached at 352-1234, extension 1432, or deisenstadter@keenesentinel.com
